MegaByte Gets Makeover, Builds on Service Legacy

Tom Frank was a customer at MegaByte Computer Center in Fayetteville long before he bought it last summer.

Now he’s busy re-shaping the store’s look and aim while maintaining its reputation for service, which is reflected in its status as an Apple Specialist. Frank said MegaByte remains the only Apple Specialist in Arkansas.

“People can walk in and get the kind of guidance that the big-box stores just can’t offer,” Frank said.

Nowadays, customers also can get an expanded assortment of accessory and add-on options. Frank has revamped the store’s interior to accommodate displays featuring new product lines from high-end suppliers like Moshi and booq. Products by digital storage specialist LaCie also have been added.

Frank said he’s given store manager Brandon Friess and his staff “more autonomy” in selecting and marketing the most up-to-date Apple offerings. The result, Frank said, is a feeling of “ownership” that has boosted employees’ morale.

Frank employs a staff of 10 full-time workers, including three service technicians. Their workspace has been re-purposed to accommodate as many as 12 to 15 machines “on the table,” as opposed to a handful in the past.

 The changes have helped MegaByte mostly meet Frank’s revenue projections.

“I had a number in mind for December, for example, and I was $1,500 off,” he said, “so I’d say we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the progress going as it’s gone.”

Frank, who bought MegaByte from Bob and Jhonnie Taylor for an undisclosed sum, said he plans to open a second location in Benton County later this year. That store will employ a mix of current and new workers.